Freiburg began their Bundesliga campaign in emphatic fashion on Sunday, cruising to a 4-1 victory over Werder Bremen.
Japanese forward Yuito Suzuki was the standout performer, scoring three goals as Freiburg produced an impressive attacking display in front of their home supporters.
Igor Matanovic also got on the scoresheet to complete a memorable opening-day win.
Bremen captain Marco Friedl admitted his side were second best for large portions of the contest and said they must quickly address their defensive problems.
“We imagined the start to the season differently,” Friedl said after the defeat.
He was particularly unhappy with the manner in which Bremen conceded Freiburg’s first two goals, insisting his team failed to maintain control after a promising opening half-hour.
“Freiburg dominated the entire game more. We must not concede the first two goals in that way,” he added.
Friedl was also frustrated that Freiburg’s smallest player, Suzuki, was allowed to score with a header from a corner.
“It can’t be that the smallest Freiburg player gets to the ball at the corner and scores,” he said.
Despite the heavy defeat, the Bremen captain believes there is sufficient time for his team to recover, with the season only beginning.
Meanwhile, Suzuki described his hat-trick as an unforgettable moment and credited his teammates for helping him achieve it.
“I’m very happy. It felt amazing to score three goals here for the fans at home,” the 23-year-old said.
Suzuki also revealed that Freiburg’s improved understanding, built through their work together since last season, played a major role in the impressive performance.
Matanovic was delighted with Freiburg’s start but acknowledged that the team must improve after allowing Bremen to score late in the game.
“We are very satisfied. We carried the momentum from the last few friendly matches into today,” he said.
The striker also praised his partnership with Suzuki, saying their understanding on the pitch could become an important weapon for Freiburg throughout the campaign.
